Brace for carriage-tops



0. FOCKLER.

Brace-for Carriage-Tops.

Patented Jan. 27, 1880.

N. PEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON, D C.

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\ WWI/w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FOGKLER, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

BRACE FOR CARRIAGE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,900, dated January 27, 1880.

Application filed November 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES FOGKLER, of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Jointed Braces or Props for Carriage-Tops; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object I have in view is to produce a jointed brace or prop for vehicle-tops, which 'will hold the top rigidly in an upright position, preventing its movement forward or back without the assistance of the rear quarter-curtains, which can be entirely. dispensed with, this peculiar prop alone giving the necessary I support.

of a carriage-top with my improved brace or O is one of the rearjointed braces or props.

To one part of the brace, at its joint D, is secured a leaf-spring, E, situated on the outer side of the joint, and extending across the keeps the brace stiff and prevents the top from moving forward or rattling. This enables the rear quarter-curtains to be dispensed with.

The leaf-spring, instead of being secured to the outside of the brace, may be sunk into the brace flush with the surface of the same, or it "may be put entirely within the brace, as in the joint of ajack-kuife. The brace may be constructed to break either forward or back ward.

If desired, the brace can break toward the front at a point somewhat below the usual joint, so as to be more convenient in operating the top.

What I claim as my invention is-- In combination with a carriage jointed top brace or prop having an extension overlapping the joint, a leaf-spring secured to said top-brace and overlapping both the extension and the joint, whereby the spring assists in closing the joint, as well as to hold the brace stifiiy in position when the joint is closed,

CHARLES FOOKLER.

Witnesses:

MONROE M. GADY, VVILLIAM GRAHAM. 

